Sequence variation divides Equine rhinitis B virus into three distinct phylogenetic groups that correlate with serotype and acid stability

Equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV), genus Erbovirus, family Picornaviridae, occurs as two serotypes, ERBV1 and ERBV2, and the few isolates previously tested were acid labile. Of 24 ERBV1 isolates tested in the studies reported here, 19 were acid labile and five were acid stable. The two available ERBV2 isolates, as expected, were acid labile. Nucleotide sequences of the P1 region encoding the capsid proteins VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4 were determined for five acid-labile and three acid-stable ERBV1 isolates and one acid-labile ERBV2 isolate. The sequences were aligned with the published sequences of the prototype acid-labile ERBV1.1436/71 and the prototype ERBV2.313/75. The three acid-stable ERBV1 were closely related in a phylogenetic group that was distinct from the group of six acid-labile ERBV1, which were also closely related to each other. The two acid-labile ERBV2 formed a third distinct group. One acid-labile ERBV1 had a chimeric acid-labile/acid-stable ERBV1 P1 sequence, presumably because of a recombination event within VP2 and this was supported by SimPlot analysis. ERBV1 rabbit antiserum neutralized acid-stable and acid-labile ERBV1 isolates similarly. Accordingly, three distinct phylogenetic groups of erboviruses exist that are consistent with serotype and acid stability phenotypes.

Viral capsid mobility: a dynamic conduit for inactivation

Mass spectrometry and fluorescent probes have provided direct evidence that alkylating agents permeate the protein capsid of naked viruses and chemically inactivate the nucleic acid. N-acetyl-aziridine and a fluorescent alkylating agent, dansyl sulfonate aziridine, inactivated three different viruses, flock house virus, human rhinovirus-14, and foot and mouth disease virus. Mass spectral studies as well as fluorescent probes showed that alkylation of the genome was the mechanism of inactivation. Because particle integrity was not affected by selective alkylation (as shown by electron microscopy and sucrose gradient experiments), it was reasoned that the dynamic nature of the viral capsid acts as a conduit to the interior of the particle. Potential applications include fluorescent labeling for imaging viral genomes in living cells, the sterilization of blood products, vaccine development, and viral inactivation in vivo.

Inactivation of viruses by aziridines

Ethyleneimine (EI) and N-acetylethyleneimine (AEI) have been shown to inactivate viruses belonging to most of the families described by the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses. The mechanism by which they inactivate the viruses has not been established. In this paper, experiments with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and poliovirus are described which indicate that the inactivating lesion is on the RNA.

Structural differences between foot-and-mouth disease and poliomyelitis viruses influence their inactivation by aziridines

Inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and poliovirus by ethyleneimine (EI) and N-acetylethyleneimine (AEI) has been studied at 25 degrees and at 37 degrees C and in different ionic conditions. FMDV is inactivated rapidly in 100 mM Tris pH 7.6 by each reagent at both temperatures. Poliovirus is also inactivated rapidly in 100 mM Tris by EI at both temperatures and by AEI at 37 degrees C. However, it is inactivated much more slowly by AEI at 25 degrees C; but if the virus is first incubated overnight at 2 degrees C with AEI before transferring to 25 degrees C inactivation then proceeds rapidly. Moreover, the rate of inactivation at 25 degrees C is markedly increased if the virus is suspended in 1 mM Tris. We had interpreted these differences as being due to the greater penetrability of poliovirus (i) in 100 mM Tris at 37 degrees C compared with 25 degrees C and (ii) at lower ionic strength. This interpretation has been confirmed by electron microscopy of FMDV and poliovirus particles stained with phosphotungstic acid. At the elevated temperature, poliovirus had an average diameter of 34+/-0. 21 nm and the stain outlined the nucleic acid core and the individual subunits, whereas at 25 degrees C it averaged 28+/-0.13 nm and the stain did not penetrate the particle. This study also showed that the particle diameter alters with changes in buffer concentration, being 28+/-0.13 nm in 100 mM Tris, 31+/-0.16 nm in 10 mM Tris and 34+/-0.21 nm in 1 mM Tris. The changes in poliovirus are reversible as addition of 1/10 volume of 1 M Tris to the virus in 1 mM Tris resulted in the return of the diameter to 28+/-0.13 nm. FMDV, on the other hand, was less sensitive to osmotic differences as its particle diameter only varied by 7% over the 100-fold change in buffer concentration compared with the 22% change observed for poliovirus.

Monoclonal antibodies to an Indian strain of type A foot-and-mouth disease virus

A set of five neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to an Indian strain (IND17/77) of type A (subtype A22) foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) was used in the study. Four of the MAbs (27S, 37S, 85S, and 143S) identified a trypsin-sensitive (TS) epitope(s) and were specific for VP1, while the remaining MAb (145S) reacted with a trypsin-resistant (TR) epitope and was specific for VP3 in Western blot analysis. Both the epitopes (TS and TR) were conformation-independent in nature. Results obtained in MAb-competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and profiling of the (MAb) neutralization-escape mutants in ELISA and cross-neutralization test revealed two overlapping TS epitopes (27S/37S and 85S/143S) on the virus. Variation at both these epitopes was observed in some field isolates of serotype A. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequence in the VP1 region (aa 140-213) between the parent virus and the mutants identified Gly148 and Arg153 as critical for the formation of both the TS epitopes. Substitution of R153 by Gly or Ser was observed in mutants with no reactivity for the MAbs 85S/143S. However, these mutants maintained partial reactivity with MAbs 27S/37S, and substitution of Gly148 by Glu eliminated both the epitopes. No amino acid substitution was observed in the VP1 region of aa 200-213. Efficient neutralization of the MAb neutralization escape mutants (MAb-resistant (MAR) mutants) by bovine vaccinate serum (BVS) indicated involvement of other epitopes on the virion surface in eliciting neutralizing antibodies following vaccination.

Inhibition of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) uncoating by a plant-derived peptide isolated from Melia azedarach L leaves

Meliacine (MA), a peptide isolated from leaves of the high plant Melia azedarach L inhibited the multiplication of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) in BHK-21 cells. In this report, we establish that the MA-inhibitable process takes place within the first hour of the viral reproductive cycle. MA had no virucidal effect and did not affect adsorption and penetration of the virus in cells. In experiments with neutral red-labeled virus, it was found that MA significantly suppressed the development of photoresistance of the virus in infected cells. In untreated cultures nearly all virus which adsorbed to cells was uncoated within 1 h at 37 degrees C, whereas in treated cultures, even after 3 h only 3% of the virus was uncoated. Labeling of BHK-21 cells with acridine orange showed that MA affects the pH of intracellular acidic vesicles. Therefore, it is concluded that MA prevents the process of uncoating of FMDV in BHK-21 cells by inhibiting vacuolar acidification.

A universal virus inactivant for decontaminating blood and biopharmaceutical products

Removal of virus infectivity from blood and biopharmaceutical products prepared from blood is an issue of considerable importance. For biopharmaceutical products, removal can usually be achieved by a series of fractionation steps or by inactivation with a suitable reagent. Irrespective of the methods that are chosen it is vital that the biological activity of the product is not impaired. For blood and unfractionated plasma or serum, the problem is even more challenging. Selective inactivation of the genome is the key step in the preparation of killed virus vaccines. Viruses belonging to all the recognised families can be inactivated by imines. In this paper it is shown that the biological properties of several proteins, including the cell growth-promoting factors in calf serum, are not impaired using conditions which ensure the inactivation of > 10(15) infectious units of poliovirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Also shown is that both viruses can be inactivated by imines at 4 degrees C, thus providing a method for removing infectivity from protein preparations which are unstable at higher temperatures. The RNA extracted from FMDV inactivated at 4 degrees C was not degraded and contained no hidden breaks but nevertheless was non-infectious. However, it could be amplified by PCR using primers corresponding to the gene coding for a portion of the viral RNA polymerase, but not from that coding for VP1, one of the structural proteins, showing that alteration of a base or bases had occurred in that region. Surprisingly, it could be translated in the rabbit reticulocyte system although some of the products were different from those obtained with unmodified RNA.

Evaluation of a live-attenuated foot-and-mouth disease virus as a vaccine candidate

A variant of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) lacking the leader (L) coding region (A12-LLV2) was previously constructed and shown to be less virulent in cattle than its wild-type parent (A12-IC). In this study, cattle were tested for their clinical and immunological responses to subcutaneous inoculation with A12-LLV2 or A12-IC or to intramuscular vaccination with chemically inactivated A12-IC. Five weeks postinoculation animals were challenged by intradermal inoculation in the tongue with a virulent cattle-passaged virus. A12-LLV2-inoculated animals showed no clinical signs of disease and developed a neutralizing antibody response by 4 days postinoculation, whereas a companion control bovine did not seroconvert. After challenge, two of three inoculated animals did not develop lesions, but showed mild signs of infection. The third inoculated animal developed some lesions, but these were less severe than in the uninoculated control animal, which showed classical FMD. All animals inoculated with A12-IC developed a fever, two showed typical FMD lesions, and the companion control seroconverted, indicating that it had acquired infection by contact. The A12-IC-inoculated animals and the control were protected from challenge. Animals vaccinated with inactivated virus showed no clinical signs of disease and developed a neutralizing antibody response, and the control did not seroconvert. Upon challenge none of the vaccinated animals developed lesions, one developed a fever, and the control developed FMD. These experiments demonstrate the potential of a rationally designed live-attenuated FMDV vaccine.

Antiviral activity of crude extracts of Guarea guidona

Crude extracts of leaves and fruits of Guarea guidona were tested for antiviral activity against pseudorabies virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus in the IB-RS-2 pig cell line and against bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) in the GBK bovine cell line. The highest nontoxic doses of extracts from fruits and leaves were 125 micrograms/ml and 500 micrograms/ml. respectively. Crude extracts presented antiviral activity against pseudorabies virus with a decrease in virus titer of 3.0 log units at 500 micrograms/ml. Virucidal activity was not observed at 62.5 micrograms/ml. Preformed cell monolayers showed no cytotoxic effect after 48 h in the presence of 500 micrograms/ml in pig cells. G. guidona leaves did not induce an antiviral state but exhibited antiviral effects during the early stage of viral infection.

Amitraz effects on foot-and-mouth disease virus in mammalian cells in vitro

The toxicity of the acaricide amitraz and its effect on foot-and-mouth disease virus multiplication were evaluated in IB-RS-2 cells in vitro. A reduction of cell growth rate that was dependent on the dose and the length of treatment was observed in cells exposed to amitraz concentrations ranging from 20 to 50 micrograms/ml. Foot-and-mouth disease virus infectivity remained essentially unchanged in cells exposed to amitraz (20 micrograms/ml) 24 hr prior to virus infection or after the adsorption period. Viral RNA synthesis evaluated through [3H]uridine incorporation in cells treated for 24 hr prior to infection was not affected by amitraz.

Structure and immunogenicity of experimental foot-and-mouth disease and poliomyelitis vaccines

The physico-chemical properties and immunogenicity of experimental vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and poliomyelitis, prepared by treatment of the viruses with N-acetylethyleneimine (AEI), formaldehyde or neutral red, have been studied. None of these reagents affects the rate of sedimentation of the particles or their reaction with antibody against the major immunogenic sites. FMD vaccines prepared by inactivation with AEI or neutral red, behaved like the untreated virus, in that they were disrupted on lowering the pH below 7. The RNA of the AEI-inactivated virus was degraded into slowly sedimenting molecules. Unlike AEI-inactivated virus, from which all the RNA could be extracted with phenol-SDS, the recovery from the neutral red inactivated virus was variable and was sometimes as low as 40%; this RNA gave a heterogenous profile in sucrose gradients. The capsid proteins in the AEI preparation migrated in SDS-PAGE to the same positions as those of untreated virus, but in the neutral red preparation there was evidence of cross-linking. In contrast, the formaldehyde-inactivated vaccine was stable below pH 7 and the RNA could not be released by extraction with phenol-SDS at pH 5, because the capsid proteins had become cross-linked and/or linked to the RNA. As with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), poliovirus which had been inactivated with formaldehyde did not release its RNA on extraction with phenol-SDS and the capsid proteins were also cross-linked. Surprisingly, although AEI cleaved the viral RNA slowly in situ, the virus was no longer infectious after 6 h. Neutral red did not reduce the infectivity of the virus. All of the preparations gave similar levels of neutralizing antibody after a single inoculation. The high levels obtained with the formaldehyde-inactivated vaccines have implications for the processing of fixed particles by the antigen-presenting cells.

Specific inhibition of aphthovirus infection by RNAs transcribed from both the 5' and the 3' noncoding regions

RNA molecules containing the 3' terminal region of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA in both antisense and sense orientations were able to inhibit viral FMDV translation and infective particle formation in BHK-21 cells following comicroinjection or cotransfection with infectious viral RNA. Antisense, but not sense, transcripts from the 5' noncoding region including the proximal element of the internal ribosome entry site and the two functional initiation AUGs were also inhibitory, both in in vitro translation and in vivo in comicroinjected or cotransfected BHK-21 cells. This effect was not observed with nonrelated RNA transcripts from lambda phage. The inhibitions found were permanent, sequence specific, and dose dependent; an inverse correlation between the length of the transcript and the extent of the antiviral effect was seen. In all cases, the extent of inhibition increased when viral RNAs and transcripts were allowed to reanneal before transfection, concomitant with a decrease in the doses required. The antiviral effect was specific for FMDV, since transcripts failed to inhibit infective particle formation by other picornavirus, such as encephalomyocarditis virus. These results indicate that the ability of RNA transcripts to inhibit viral multiplication depends on their efficient hybridization with target regions on the viral genome. Furthermore, cells transfected with the 5'1as transcript, which is complementary to the 5' noncoding region, showed a significant reduction of plaque-forming ability during the course of a natural infection. RNA 5'1as was able to inhibit FMDV RNA translation in vitro, suggesting that the inhibitions observed are mediated by a blockage of the viral translation initiation. Conversely, hybridization of short sequences of both sense and antisense transcripts from the 3' end induces distortion of predicted highly ordered structural motifs, which could be required for the synthesis of negative-stranded viral RNA, and correlates with inhibition of viral propagation.

Antiviral effects of a thiol protease inhibitor on foot-and-mouth disease virus

The thiol protease inhibitor E-64 specifically blocks autocatalytic activity of the leader protease of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and interferes with cleavage of the structural protein precursor in an in vitro translation assay programmed with virion RNA. Experiments with FMDV-infected cells and E-64 or a membrane-permeable analog, E-64d, have confirmed these results and demonstrated interference in virus assembly, causing a reduction in virus yield. In addition, there is a lag in the appearance of virus-induced cellular morphologic alterations, a delay in cleavage of host cell protein p220 and in shutoff of host protein synthesis, and a decrease in viral protein and RNA synthesis. The implications of using E-64-based compounds as potential antiviral agents for FMDV are discussed.

A study on the immune response of sheep to foot and mouth disease virus vaccine type 'O' prepared with different inactivants and adjuvants

Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) type 'O' was inactivated either with formaldehyde or binaryethyleneimine (BEI). Vaccines were prepared with inactivated virus incorporating aluminum hydroxide gel or mineral oil as an adjuvant. The antibody response in sheep was monitored by serum neutralization and ELISA test for a period of six months. Significant difference in antibody response was not observed between vaccines inactivated with formaldehyde or BEI. On the other hand significant difference in the antibody response was noticed between alhydrogel and oil vaccines. The high titer of antibodies stimulated by oil adjuvant vaccines persisted longer than those of alhydrogel vaccines within the period of study.

A mechanism involved in the plaque enhancement effect of sodium thiosulfate for foot-and-mouth disease viruses

A mechanism involved in the plaque enhancement effect of foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV) by the addition of sodium thiosulfate (Hypo) in the agar overlay medium (AOM) previously reported was studied. It was experimentally proved that the diffusion of virus particles through agar overlay medium was enhanced when this salt was incorporated. Accordingly, the enlarged plaque formation was assumed to be caused by the enhanced diffusion of viral progenies produced in infectious centers during plaque assays.

RGD-containing peptides of VP1 of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) prevent virus infection in vitro

RGD-containing peptides from the immunodominant region of VP1 between amino acids 135-160 from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type O1 Kaufbeuren (O1K) prevented virus adsorption to piglet kidney (PK) cells. The highly conserved amino acid RGD sequence (Arg.-Gly.-Asp.) was a prerequisite of this effect. To prevent infection with 100-200 TCID50 in 10(6) PK cells, 20-250 micrograms of each peptide should have been added.

Inactivation of foot and mouth disease virus in skimmed milk with propionic acid, citric acid and hydrogen peroxide

In order to protect farm animals from infections such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tuberculosis, the pasteurisation of milk and milk products designated for the feeding of animals is compulsory in Switzerland. Nowadays, milk products are often treated chemically with acids or with hydrogen peroxide in order to keep bacterial contamination low. The capacity of these chemical treatments to inactivate FMD virus in skimmed milk within 6 h at 5 degrees C was tested in this study. The results indicated that the addition of 0.1%-0.3% of consumable acids, such as citric acid or propionic acid, could not guarantee the complete inactivation of FMD virus in skimmed milk. Similar results were obtained both with FMD virus deliberately added to skimmed milk and with skimmed milk obtained from naturally infected cows. Hydrogen peroxide in concentrations of 0.1%-0.3% was also an ineffective means of controlling the risk of FMD virus transmission from contaminated milk.

Unique amino acid substitutions in the capsid proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus from a persistent infection in cell culture

Maintenance of a persistent foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection in BHK-21 cells involves a coevolution of cells and virus (J. C. de la Torre, E. Martínez-Salas, J. Díez, A. Villaverde, F. Gebauer, E. Rocha, M. Dávila, and E. Domingo, J. Virol. 62:2050-2058, 1988). The resident FMDV undergoes a number of phenotypic changes, including a gradual decrease in virion stability. Here we report the nucleotide sequence of the P1 genomic segment of the virus rescued after 100 passages of the carrier cells (R100). Only 5 of 15 mutations in P1 of R100 were silent. Nine amino acid substitutions were fixed on the viral capsid during persistence, and three of the variant amino acids are not represented in the corresponding position of any picornavirus sequenced to date. Cysteine at position 7 of VP3, that provides disulfide bridges at the FMDV fivefold axis, was substituted by valine, as determined by RNA, cDNA, and protein sequencing. The modified virus shows high buoyant density in cesium chloride and depicts the same sensitivity to photoinactivation by intercalating dyes as the parental FMDV C-S8c1. Amino acid substitutions fixed in VP1 resulted in altered antigenicity, as revealed by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. In addition to defining at the molecular level the alterations the FMDV capsid underwent during persistence, the results show that positions which are highly invariant in an RNA genome may change when viral replication occurs in a modified environment.

Mouse footpad Langerhans cells as an indicator for safety of foot and mouth disease virus vaccines

The effect of various vaccines against foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) was tested on Langerhans cell density in the footpad epidermis of mice. Injection of monovalent, bivalent and trivalent FMDV vaccines caused a reduction in Langerhans cell density in the murine skin, which was more marked at the center of the footpad, the site of injection, than at the periphery. Testing of the various components of the vaccine showed that saponin caused a marked reduction in Langerhans cells while injection of aluminium hydroxide had a lesser effect and the virus alone had no effect on these cells. Thus Langerhans cell density could serve as an efficient marker to test the safety of vaccines to FMDV since the integrity of Langerhans cells, which are the antigen-presenting cells in the skin epidermis, is needed for an effective immune response to the vaccine.

The effect of peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid sequence on the adsorption of foot-and-mouth disease virus to tissue culture cells

Sequencing of the VP1 of a large number of subtypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has revealed the presence of a conserved arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence located in a highly exposed region. This sequence has been shown to be essential for the interaction of certain extracellular matrix and adhesion proteins with a superfamily of cell-surface receptors called integrins. We have examined the effects of synthetic peptides containing the RGD sequence on the binding of eight different subtypes of FMDV to tissue culture cells. The results showed that such peptides inhibited viral adsorption by 50-80%. The inhibition was dose dependent but not as great as that achieved by using a saturating amount of virus as an inhibitor. Substitution of other amino acids for any of the three main residues lowered the inhibitory properties of the peptides. These results suggest that the RGD sequence in FMDV VP1 appears to be important for the interaction of virus with cellular receptor sites.

The cell attachment site on foot-and-mouth disease virus includes the amino acid sequence RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid)

The amino acid sequence RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) is highly conserved in the VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), despite being situated in the immunodominant hypervariable region between amino acids 135 and 160. RGD-containing proteins are known to be important in promoting cell attachment in several different systems, and we report here that synthetic peptides containing this sequence are able to inhibit attachment of the virus to baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Inhibition was dose-dependent and could be reversed on removal of the peptide. A synthetic peptide corresponding to a portion of the same hypervariable region but not containing the RGD sequence did not inhibit virus attachment under the same conditions. Antibody against the RGD region of VP1 blocked attachment of the virus to BHK cells, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, which neutralize virus by preventing cell attachment, were blocked by RGD-containing peptides from binding virus in an ELISA test. Cleavage of the C-terminal region of virus VP1 in situ with proteolytic enzymes reduced cell attachment, and antiserum against a peptide corresponding to this region was also able to inhibit attachment of virus to BHK cells. These results indicate that the amino acid sequence RGD at positions 145 to 147 and amino acids from the C-terminal region of VP1 (positions 203 to 213) contribute to the cell attachment site on FMDV for BHK cells.

Safety and efficacy of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines containing endonuclease-inactivated virions

Inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) by means of virion-associated endonuclease was found to be suited to the production of safe and potent vaccines, which proved to be equal or better than those containing formaldehyde or ethyleneimine in guinea-pig potency tests. First order inactivation kinetics were regularly shown, with half life values which varied according to the different temperatures used. Inactivation brought about extensive degradation of FMDV RNA, while it did not adversely influence the integrity of critical viral epitopes on FMDV VP1.

Ribavirin cures cells of a persistent infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus in vitro

Ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) eliminates foot-and-mouth disease virus from persistently infected cell cultures. The latter are 10-fold more sensitive to ribavirin than lytically infected cells. In treated cells no viral RNA or proteins could be detected by dot-blot hybridization to cDNA probes, virus and RNA infectivity assays, or immunofluorescence. A potential application of the drug for the treatment of animals carrying the virus is suggested.

Comparative studies on growth of foot-and-mouth disease virus types 0 and Asia 1 in BHK-21 Razi cells

Growth pattern of foot-and-mouth disease virus types 0 and Asia 1 in BHK-21 Razi cells was compared; while type 0 virus grew in high titre, Asia 1 virus was produced in low titre. Inhibition of host protein synthesis in type 0 virus-infected cells was more pronounced than in Asia 1 virus-infected cells. Foot-and-mouth disease virus type 0 infected cells showed higher lactic dehydrogenase activity when compared to Asia 1 virus. A significant decrease in virus yield was observed when Actinomycin D had been added at 50 micrograms/ml to infected cells.

Plaque enhancement effect of sodium thiosulfate for foot-and-mouth disease viruses

A plaque enhancement effect by the addition of sodium thiosulfate for foot-and-mouth disease viruses was demonstrated when this salt was incorporated in agar and in agarose overlay media. Most of the mechanism is obscure, however, as one of the effects is that sodium thiosulfate seems to interact in a reversible manner against the plaque inhibitor action of neutral red in cellular cytoplasm. A plaque inhibitor contained in agar could be removed in some degree by the addition of this salt.

Protection of guinea pigs against local and systemic foot-and-mouth disease after administration of synthetic lipid amine (Avridine) liposomes

Injection of the synthetic lipid amine, Avridine, in the form of liposomes, protected guinea pigs against the development of lesions from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) inoculated intradermally into the rear footpads. The animals were protected against the development of vesicles at the inoculation site as well as the systemic spread of virus. Maximal protection was obtained after intracardial injection of 5-10 mg doses of liposomal Avridine. Lower doses yielded decreased protection. Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal routes of liposomal Avridine injection were ineffective. Protection was maximal 0-24 h after injection of liposomes. Ethanol and emulsion formulations of Avridine could induce protection when injected intracardially but had toxic side effects. Guinea pigs protected against the first FMDV inoculation by liposomal and ethanol formulations of Avridine continued to be protected against lesions after a second inoculation 15-45 days later. FMDV protective antibody titers of these animals ranged from a low of less than 1:10 to greater than 1:1000.

Early steps in FMDV replication: further analysis on the effects of chloroquine

We have previously demonstrated that chloroquine and NH4Cl, two well-known lysosomotropic drugs inhibit foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replication. This fact points to the relevance of an acidic environment during FMDV penetration. In the present report, we show that chloroquine prevents the cell-mediated disruption of 140 S virions into 12 S particles. This dissociation, which resembles that caused by low pH in vitro, might be an initial uncoating step. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a decrease in the environmental pH counteracts the effect of chloroquine indicating that viral disruption is a low-pH cell-mediated process. The fact that it still occurs at low temperature (20 degrees) and shortly after viral adsorption suggests not only that prelysosomal vesicles represent the putative site for uncoating but also cause the virion to uncoat.

Formaldehyde inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus. Conditions for the preparation of safe vaccine

The inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus by formaldehyde was studied under different conditions, both as free virus and (as in routine vaccine production) after adsorption of the virus to aluminium hydroxide gel (alhydrogel). In the latter case infectivity was monitored after elution of the virus from the gel by isopycnic ultracentrifugation of the virus-alhydrogel mixture in CsCl. By this method good virus recoveries were obtained. Adsorption of the virus to alhydrogel (without formaldehyde) did not reduce infectivity significantly. Both adsorbed and non-absorbed virus lost infectivity at a rate of about one log10 per day (at pH 8.5, 25 degrees C--no formaldehyde). Kinetics of formaldehyde inactivation of adsorbed and non-adsorbed virus were also identical, with a fast reduction in the initial phase (in case of O1 and A10-virus approximately one log10/hour). After this initial phase inactivation became linear and rather slow (for O1 and A10-virus 0.2 log10/hour). No "tailing-off" was observed. Under standard conditions (0.04 per cent formaldehyde, pH 8.5, 25 degrees C) CD-virus was inactivated approximately 1.5 times faster than O1 and A10-virus. At 4 degrees C the inactivation of the three strains continued at about one log10/day. Increased lactalbumin hydrolysate concentrations reduced the inactivation rate, especially at the formaldehyde concentration of 0.02 per cent, which was originally applied. Quaternary amines like Tris strongly inhibited formaldehyde activity. These findings might explain some data of others who observed "tailing off". Analysis of formaldehyde inactivated antigen by SDS-PAGE and electrofocusing showed that extensive cross-linking occurs especially of VP1, probably with other virus proteins but also with non-virus proteins from the medium. VP2 and VP3 are less affected. Cross-linking was enhanced when the virus had been adsorbed to alhydrogel during inactivation. Progressive cross-linking was observed during storage of the vaccine at 4 degrees C, which also indicated that inactivation continued at this temperature. These data show that formaldehyde inactivated adsorbate vaccines can be safe.

Effect of lysosomotropic agents on the foot-and-mouth disease virus replication

The effect of two lysosomotropic agents, NH4Cl and chloroquine, on the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replicative cycle was studied. When the drugs were present throughout the viral replicative cycle, an important inhibition of viral RNA synthesis and virus production was detected. The inhibition of viral RNA synthesis was maximal when the drugs were present from 30 min before virus infection up to 30 min after that. Otherwise, if the agents were added once the viral synthesis has started (150 min p.i.) the effect was not evident. The agents neither exerted direct virucidal effects, nor did they affect viral adsorption. The results indicate that the lysosomotropic agents affect preferentially an early intracellular event during the viral infective cycle.

Physicochemical transformation of milk components and release of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Possible mechanisms for protective roles of milk components on foot-and-mouth disease virus present in the milk of infected cows were examined. Light scattering bands collected from Ficoll-sucrose gradient fractions of skim-milk contained membrane-limited structures but these were non-infectious for bovine kidney cells. Infectivity titres in buttermilk higher than those of the original cream or butter suggested association of virus with milk fat globules. Increased infectivity titres in skim-milk after treatment with SDS suggested release of virus particles from dissociated casein micelle subunits. Chelating agents, de-emulsifying agents and trypsin, which alter the structure of the individual milk components casein, lipid and milk fat globule membrane were without effect on infectivity titres.

[Antiviral activity of modified RNAses]

Antiviral activity of pancreatic RNase and RNase from Act.rimosus modified by various dextran derivatives was studied with respect to aphthosa and Ayzeku disease viruses. Antiviral activity of pancreatic RNase modified by dextran m-aminobenzylhydroxymethyl ether was lower than biological activity of RNase from Act.rimosus modified by the same dextran. Antiviral activity of pancreatic enzyme modified by dialdehyde dextran also changed insignificantly. Modification by dextran hydroxyethylsulfonylanisole ether, dextran m-aminobenzylhydroxymethyl ether in the presence of pyridine or dextran sulfate resulted in a more pronounced increase in antiviral activity of pancreatic enzyme. Therefore, biological activity of the modified nucleases depended on the nature of the enzyme and dextran modifying it.

Guanidine-resistant mutants of aphthovirus induce the synthesis of an altered nonstructural polypeptide, P34

Extracts of cells infected with guanidine-resistant mutants of aphthovirus were examined for differences in virus-induced polypeptides by using electrofocusing. Four of 1 independent spontaneous mutants induced the synthesis of an altered nonstructural polypeptide, P34. The precursor of P34, P52, and a previously unmapped polypeptide, P20c, also carried these charge-change mutations. No mutations in other regions of the genome were detected, and the remaining six guanidine-resistant mutants appeared entirely normal by electrofocusing. However, when the P34 of one of the latter mutants was examined by tryptic peptide fingerprinting, it too differed from that of the guanidine-sensitive parent. The frequency of P34 alterations among guanidine-resistant mutants suggests that P34 is functionally involved in the antiviral action of guanidine.

[Comparative study of the antiviral activity of pancreatic and microbial RNAse]

The efficacy of pancreatic RNase with microbial enzymes (RN-ases) of Act. rimosus and Bacillus intermedius) was studied comparatively in vitro in a transplantable cell culture of the swine embryokidney with respect to the aphthosa virus (AV) and the virus of the Aujeszky disease (VAD). The VAD proved to be most sensitive to RNases. RNase of Bac. intermedius showed the highest antiviral efficacy. The enzymes were active in vivo, when the albino mice and newborn rabbits were infected with the AV, the RNase of Bac. intermedius being also most active in this case.

[Effect of the contrast conditions using solutions of phosphotungstic acid on the electron microscopic image of the foot-and-mouth disease virus]

A method of negative staining of foot-and-mouth disease virus preparations permits to obtain separately positive (2% phosphotungstic acid solution, pH 3.0) and negative (2% PTA solution, pH 6.8 +/- 8.0) stainings. When a 3--4% PTA solution, pH 6.8 +/- 8.0 is used, simultaneous positive and negative staining of each virion is possible which characterizes the functional heterogeneity of the virion protein membrane in interaction with PTA anions.

Isolation and characterization of trypsin-resistant O1 variants of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Strains of foot-and-mouth disease virus of types O1 and A10 were isolated which showed no significant loss of infectivity upon trypsinization. These 'trypsin-resistant' (TR) viruses were obtained by serial passage in BHK cells of virus that was trypsin-treated before inoculation of the cells. Three O1 isolates were cloned and studied further. Cell attachment of those TR O1 variants (OTR1) was not reduced by trypsinization, unlike that of parent virus. The polypeptide compositions of TR viruses as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were identical with those of parent virus, with the exception of OTR1 which contained an additional polypeptide approx, 3000 daltons larger than VP1. After trypsinization, which normally cleaves VP1, the polypeptide composition of the three TR viruses (including OTR1) and of parent virus did not show any significant difference. In OTR1 both the additional virus protein and VP1 were cleaved into a P18 molecule and smaller fragments. The surface location of this additional polypeptide was confirmed by iodination experiments. It was shown by immunodiffusion experiments that only OTR1 differed from the parent virus. This antigenic change was present on the trypsin-sensitive part of the virus since trypsinized TR viruses (including OTR1) were antigenically identical to trypsinized parent virus. The electrophoretic mobilities of the three OTR viruses isolated, and of parent virus, differed somewhat before trypsinization. After trypsin-treatment, the mobilities of TR viruses were all increased to the same level; however, their rate of migration was lower than that of trypsin-treated parent virus. This lower mobility of trypsin-treated OTR viruses was the only difference which could be associated with retained infectivity.

Glutaraldehyde inactivation of exotic animal viruses in swine heart tissue

Glutaraldehyde, 0.2%, in a 1:100 (wt/vol) ratio, inactivated four animal viruses (foot-and-mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, hog cholera) in swine heart tissues during 11-day exposures at 22 to 26 degrees C.

Inhibition of foot and mouth disease virus and procapsid synthesis by zinc ions. Brief report

Zinc ions inhibit virus production and viral RNA synthesis in FMDV infected-BHK 21 cells. The degree of inhibition depends upon the zinc concentration and the time of addition of the drug. A differential inhibition on virus and procapsids synthesis was observed.

Immune response to virus-infection-associated (VIA) antigen in cattle repeatedly vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease virus inactivated by formalin or acetylethyleneimine

The results of experiments to investigate antibody to 'virus infection associated' (VIA) antigen in cattle repeatedly vaccinated with formalin- or acetylethyleneimine- (AEI) inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines under laboratory conditions are reported. Results are also presented from some vaccinated animals subsequently exposed to FMD infection. Antibody against VIA was not detected before and after the first vaccination with formalin or AEI-inactivated vaccine but did develop in all animals after the second formalin vaccination and persisted throughout the experiment. After the second AEI vaccination, 4 of 12 animals developed antibody which persisted for at least 37 days. This transient response in some cattle was repeated after successive vaccinations but, in general, more animals responded as the number of vaccinations increased. After exposure to infection a transient VIA antibody response was occasionally observed in immune AEI-vaccinated animals. Some immune repeatedly AEI-vaccinated cattle did not develop detectable VIA antibody after challenge despite the persistence of virus in oesophageal-pharyngeal (O/P) fluid. The presence of antibody to VIA antigen is not conclusive proof that vaccinated animals have been exposed to infection and field data must be interpreted with caution.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus immunogenic capsid protein VPT: N-terminal sequences and immunogenic peptides obtained by CNBr and tryptic cleavages

The immunogenic capsid protein (VPT), circa 30 kiladaltons (kd), of foot-and-mouth disease virus was examined for (i) its ability to induce neutralizing antibody in guinea pigs after chemical modifications and CNBr or tryptic cleavages and (ii) N-terminal amino sequence homology across three virus types. The immunogenicity of VPT was inactivated by glutaraldehyde treatment, carboxymethylation and maleylation or citraconylation. However, de-citraconylation restored part of the lost activity. Cleavage of type A12 VPT with CNBr produced an immunogenic peptide of circa 13 kd. A slightly larger (ca. 16 kd) immunogenic doublet, VPTab, was obtained by tyrptic cleavage of VPT in the virion. Sequence homologies of circa 85% were found between the first 26 amino acids at the N-terminus of VP chains from virus types A12 strain 119 (A12), C3 Resende (C3R) and O1 Brugge (O1B).